Ohio U extends spring break until March 22

Graphic by Maggie Prosser.

Ohio University extended spring break for students another full week Thursday because of recommendations from the state and to allow instructors more time to transition their classes to an online format, according to a statement from the university.

Students’ spring break will now end Sunday, March 22, with online instruction set to officially begin the following day. Face-to-face classes are set to resume March 30 at the earliest.

Students who live in residence halls are instructed to not return to campus following spring break unless they request and receive prior authorization from Housing and Residence Life. Students are permitted swipe into their residence halls to retrieve belongings between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. beginning Thursday through Monday, March 16, but they are not permitted to stay without prior authorization from Housing and Residence Life.

“The quality of our academic programs and the success of our students is critical, and we want to ensure the highest quality educational experience as we transition,” according to the statement.

No coronavirus cases have been reported on Ohio U’s Athens campus or any regional campuses as of Thursday, and the risk of virus transmission on campus is believed to be low. Those who are ill were instructed to not come to campus.

Students were notified of the extension to their breaks via text message Thursday evening.

The university also moved Thursday to suspend all in-person programs and activities of student organizations on campus. Organizations are encouraged to cancel off-campus events and large gatherings until at least March 30.

Additionally, Ohio U, in coordination with the Patton College of Education, suspended child-care activities at the Child Development Center on Thursday until at least March 30 to “to prevent spread of the coronavirus and protect the health and safety of the students, staff, faculty and children,” according to a news release from the university.

Full-time employees at the center are still required to report to work, but teaching fellows, professional interns, lab students and student employees were instructed to not return until told otherwise.

Ohio U formally suspended in-person classes Tuesday and moved all instruction online for fear of a coronavirus outbreak.

Ohio State University on Thursday moved classes online for the remainder of the semester with few exceptions. Undergraduate students who live on campus are expected to move out of the residence halls by March 22, according to a statement from the institution.